Which frequency do pilots use to communicate with one another when the tower is closed?

• A. Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
• B. Air Traffic Control Frequency
• C. Ground Control Frequency
• D. Tower Advisory Frequency

Answer: (A)

When the tower is not operating, there’s no active air traffic control service guiding traffic. Pilots use the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to talk to one another, announcing positions, intentions, and any observed traffic. This shared frequency helps everyone stay aware of where other aircraft are and what they’re doing, which is essential for safe takeoffs, landings, and pattern work without ATC guidance.

Other options aren’t designed for this situation. An Air Traffic Control Frequency would be used only if ATC services were available, which isn’t the case when the tower is closed. Ground Control handles taxi instructions under ATC at a towered field, not air-to-air coordination in the absence of a tower. Tower Advisory Frequency isn’t a standard term for communicating when the tower is closed.